Artificial fuel.



JOHN WOOD LEADBEATER, OF LEEDS, ENGLAND.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed March 21, 1906, Serial N0- 307,275-

ents there is described a petroleum com pound for adding to ordinary fuel for the purpose of assisting combustion. This compound is manufactured in a hard, solid, or

somewhat fluid state by mixing together petroleum, resin, stearin, lime, and sawdust in suitable proportions. In this way an enriching compound for fuels is obtained, which materially adds to the combustible characteristics of the fuel. hen it is desired to use the compound in the manufacture of briquets it has been necessary to pulverize it. Pulverization, however, besides involving the employment of plant which adds to the cost of production of the compound, is attended by certain inconveniencesfor instance, in pulverizing or crushing the blocks there is a tendency for the material to clog the crushing-machine employed, and the crushing is not so effective as is desirable. lVith the view of rendering the block produced more brittle, and consequently more readily crushed, it has been proposed to omit stearin from the composition and in some cases to add pitch to render the block still more brittle.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved compound of this character which shall be non-adherent or granular without crushing and which shall not require heat in its formation and shall be well adapted for use in the manufacture of briquets.

This invention consists in a method of producing an improved petroleum or the like compound in granular or non-adherent form and composed of (1) petroleum (preferably crude or petroleum refuse or astatki,) (2) dry sawdust, peat, or similar granular absorbent, (3) tar or pitch or wood tar or resin, (4) dry slaked lime, this compound being used for enriching the fuel.

The invention further consists in the method of manufacturing briquets with this com pound, as hereinafter set forth.

In describing and claiming the composition of this fuel and its manufacture the term petroleum indicates all that is mentioned in clause 1 above. Sawdust includes all in clause U0. 2. Pitch and lime likewise include what is mentioned in clauses 3 and 4, respectively.

According to one composition the ingredients, by weight, are proportioned as follows: petroleum, fifty-six per cent; pitch, eight per cent; lime, ten per cent; sawdust, twenty-six per cent. It will be understood, however, that I may considerably vary the composition for the purpose of making a compound of higher or lower calorific value, as desired. In consequence the proportions will be determined to a great extent by each particular kind of fuel with which it is desired to use this enriching compound.

In order to obtain my improved granular compound, the process of manufacturing is as follows: About two-thirds of the sawdust which it is intended to use is mixed in a suitable pug-mill or the like with the whole of the petroleum. A very small amount of heat may be applied; but the mixing may also be carried out in the cold state. Next the desired proportion of pitch is added and the mixing again carried out. The mixing process is still continued while the lime is gradually added and then finally the remaining third or other proportion of the sawdust is added. The effect of this last part of the process is to bring the whole mass into a granular state.

In the mixing process as described above the application of heat is not essential, but may be used to assist in the production of a normal or standard condition of the materials, so that, say, the petroleum and. pitch may mix readily despite differences of outside temperature.

This petroleum compound, either by itself or when made up into briquets, as hereinafter described, has the property of not running or melting during combustion and is not inflammable in the sense that the petroleum itself is, and thus it may be transportedwithout danger. It has the result of improving the heating effect of the fuels mainly by giving increased liveliness and flaming qualities to the briquets, which qualities are often lacking in briquets. Again, the effect of the quets, about three to five per cent. oLthecompound is introduced into the materials of the briquets, the proportion varying according to the calorific value of the bases ernployed.

It is important in using this compound in the manufacture of briquets that the mixing of the enriching compound with the base and pitch of the briquets shall not take place in the heater of the briquet-machine or before the base and pitch have passed to the heater. In consequence the compound is added to the base and pitch after these have passed through the heater of the briquet-machine and just before they descend into the pressing-mold, at which point a subsidiary pugmill is preferably arranged to effect the mix ing. By avoiding this heating effect any tendency that the warmth of the heater would have of loosening, melting, or undoing the dry granulated compound is obviated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

]. A method of producing a granular comseopse pound comprising the following ingredients (1) petroleum, preferably crude or petroleum refuse or astatki, (2) dry sawdust, peat or similar granular absorbent, (3) tar or pitch or resin, and (4) dry slaked lime, consisting in intimately mixing the greater portion of the sawdust with the petroleum, adding the pitch and While still mixing the mass, gradually adding the lime and finally adding the remaining portion of the sawdust and mixing the compound whereby the whole mass is brought to a granular state, substantially as described.

2. A method of manufacturing a briquet consisting in mixing and heating base material and bond, and after the base and bond mixture has left the heater, adding a small proportion of (1) petroleum, (preferably crude or petroleum refuse or astatki) (2) dry sawdust, peat or similar granular absorbent, (3) tar or pitch or Wood tar or resin, and (4) dry slaked lime, then mixing and finally molding the mass, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WOOD LEADBEATER.

Witnesses:

P. S. H. ALEXANDER, P. M. DAVIES. 

